Purses

[ChrisMiss]

Well since we're on the subject of thrifted or used purses I'll post a question.  How do you clean your purses? 

I recently bought a fabric-like purse with leather-like accessories on it.  It was clean looking inside but the outside had some dirty dingy look to it especially around the edges.  Since it was less than $3.00 I decided I'd try washing the whole purse.  I made a dishpan of Oxyclean and soaked the purse for a short time.  Then I used laundry soap in the dish pan and gently rubbed the dirty spots with a cloth.  I also wiped all the leather-like attachments.  After rinsing well I hung it out to dry.  I must say I was impressed with how fresh and clean the purse turned out.  It now looks brand new.  What method do you use to clean those purse finds?

[Krisathome]

I have put some of the purses in the washing machine and so far they have turned out fine.  I don't dry them though. Air dry and reshape.  I figure most of my purses are $2 so what the heck. 

[foutchie]

I wash in the sink, like ChrisMiss - haven't run into a problem yet

[alexandra]

I also wash them.  If they are leather, I will use a leather cleaning wipe, or if I have saddle soap, I'll use that.  Cloth purses definitely get a soaking and are set to air dry.  If a purse is in fine condition but maybe doesn't smell so fresh, it gets a tumble in the dryer on low or no temp.  It never hurts to spray Febreze first.  I'll often leave half pieces of fabric softener sheets in the purse while I store it too.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Krisathome]

Hey, how come nobody corrected me when I posted the pic of the purse earlier in this post?  Geesh...I must have been tired when I pulled up the picture because it is NOT an Enid Collins purse, it's a Caro Nan.  Sorry about the mistake. 

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Thanks for the correction. I've never actually seen an Enid Collins in person, but I've read about them, so if one says a bag is an EC then it is    

I don't know anything about Caro Nan, so if you want to share some info, I would love to learn.

Merry Thriftmas,
SeSo